Carter, Lee are X-Men United

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – For at least three more days the X-Men are United.

Quarterback Xavier Lee and receiver Xavier Carter are representing the state of Florida in Saturday’s U.S. Army All-America Game at the Alamodome.

And just like their unique first name that they share, X-Men 2 share an unique ability to shred opposing defenses like a scratch from super hero Wolverine’s claws.

Lee is the strong armed dual-threat quarterback from Daytona Beach (Fla.) Seabreeze and Carter is the super-fast receiver from Palm Bay, Fla.

Put them together and it should be a mighty tough combination for the West defense to stop.

Simply put, these X-Men are special.

“It’s hard not to be a player in Florida and not know about Xavier Lee,” Carter said with a big smile. “I knew coming into this game that he’s a great quarterback. We’ve really gotten along great, and I think we have a great connection together. I wish I had a quarterback like that throwing me balls all year long.”

Just like Lee wishes he had a super-star receiver like Carter to throw the ball to.

“I knew he was fast,” Lee said.

“I heard he had a 40 time of four point who knows what. I knew he was the fastest guy in the state of Florida and in the entire nation. I think he’s showing that out here. He just flies around out there. If I had a guy like him, I would have thrown for 10,000 yards and 200 touchdowns in my career.”

But the two stars weren’t united in high school, and at this point they’re only going to be together on the field as players one time. There is a remote chance, though, that both could end up paired up in college.

Lee is listing Florida State as his leader over Auburn, Syracuse and Texas. He visits Florida State on January 9, followed by visits to Texas and Syracuse. Carter lists LSU as his top team after a November official visit but is also looking hard at Florida, Florida State and Miami.

Both players said they hope to continue to get to know each other better and hope to be paired together when they visit Tallahassee on January 9 for their official visit to Florida State.

“It’s been really incredible getting to know Xavier,” Lee said. “I think everybody knew coming into this that he was a really special player and a great athlete, but I’ve gotten to know him a little bit when we hang out. He’s a really cool guy and somebody I wouldn’t mind playing with again in college.”

Carter agreed.

“They’re a lot of good quarterbacks out here playing in this game, but X-Lee is the best of them all,” Carter said. “He is the best. He’s got a great arm and he always puts the ball in the perfect spots. He’s also been cool to hang out with, and you can see why he gets all the attention he does. He handles is really good.”

While Carter was able to easily call Lee the top quarterback in the East camp, Lee wasn’t quite ready to give the best receiver title up to Carter.

“He’s the fastest,” Lee said with a huge grin. “They’re all really good out here. But since he’s standing here right next to me, I’d say he’s the best. Naw seriously, He’s probably the most gifted guy I’ve had at the receiver spot, and I can’t wait to get out there and work with him and represent the state of Florida.”

All that’s left to be determined now is whether or not they’ll be an X-Men III.

BROHM STILL TAKING HIS TIME

Louisville (Ky.) Trinity pro-style quarterback and four-star selection Brian Brohm has looked solid throughout the first three days of practice for the East squad.

But all that’s on the mind of recruiting fans is where he’s going to end up.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Brohm has already visited Kentucky, Notre Dame and Tennessee and is now thinking about whether or not he’s going to announce his decision any time soon.

"It will probably come from within a week [of the Louisville] visit in January,” Brohm said.

“That will be something that is weighed into it."

The big question on many fans’ minds is where the Tennesse Volunteers stand on his list after the Vols were able to snag a commitment earlier this month from Erik Ainge?

"They told me from the beginning that they were going to sign two quarterbacks,” Brohm said.

“If I were to come in there it would probably be myself, Ainge and Clausen battling for the position."

Away from the recruiting front, Brohm said it’s an honor to get to play in the Army All-America Game.

"We're having a lot of fun and there are a lot of great players out there,” he said.

“It's just fun to be out there. The wide receivers are spectacular here, and they can go up and get anything."

JUNIOR RECRUITS SHOWING UP

With the U.S. Army All-America Combine starting tomorrow afternoon, some of the top juniors in the nation are starting to make their way to San Antonio. Three of them from Plainfield, N.J., were already there hanging out in the Westin, the bowl game headquarters.

The biggest junior star in the bunch was offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, who easily passed the eyeball test at 6-foot-7 and 320-pounds. Also on hand were cornerback James Williams and running back Aaron Hale, who both are going to be recruited.

But it was Monroe that easily stood head and shoulders above even some of the seniors there on hand to play the game. He was an impressive physical specimen and it was easy to see why he already has scholarship offers from UConn, Rutgers, Maryland, Virginia, Boston College, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Florida State and Iowa.

“I’m also very interested in Miami,” he said. “This is a great honor to get to come compete in this combine. I’ve heard that this is the only combine that has all the best juniors from around the nation, and I really wanted to be part of it.”

So did Williams and Hale. Williams said he’s close to earning scholarship offers from Rutgers, Oregon, Arizona State and Penn State. Hale is getting early attention from Indiana, Rutgers and Wisconsin.

Editor's Note: Expect even more news shortly for the U.S. Army All-American Game, including news and notes on who's going to announce his decision, who isn't and some of the big news on the injury front.